Photos: Coal town, Lynch, Kentucky

Mario Tama/Getty Images04.19.2012

Men attend a little league baseball game on April 16, 2012 in Benham, Kentucky. The historic neighboring coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was once the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

A woman sits behind an old Warm Morning coal burning stove, still in use in the winter months, in a store on April 15, 2012 in Ary, Kentucky. The proprietor of the store said she still uses the stove when regular heat isn't sufficient or is turned off.Mario Tama/Getty Images

People fish as surface mining remnants are seen in the background in the Appalachian Mountains on April 15, 2012 in Ary, Kentucky. Some types of surface mining on mountains are known as "mountaintop removal mining" which has destroyed 500 mountain peaks and at least 1,200 miles of streams while leading to increased flooding. The Appalachians are some of the oldest mountains on Earth.Mario Tama/Getty Images

An abandoned fire station is seen on April 16, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch in the Appalachian Mountains once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was at one time the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Abandoned coal structures are seen on April 16, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch in the Appalachian Mountains once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was at one time the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Teenagers play basketball on April 16, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch in the Appalachian Mountains once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was once the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Abandoned coal company structures are seen on April 16, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was once the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Men attend a little league baseball game on April 16, 2012 in Benham, Kentucky. The historic neighboring coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was once the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

The abandoned Lynch High School is seen on April 16, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was once the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

A cross adorned with flowers is seen next to abandoned coal company structures on April 16, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was once the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town's water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

McKinley Sumner, 79, views surface coal mining operations near his home in the Appalachian Mountains on April 18, 2012 in Montgomery Creek, Kentucky. Sumner says a coal company mined a section of his family's land without permission and had to battle the company for two years before receiving any damages or reclamation.Mario Tama/Getty Images

A car passes homes on April 16, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was once the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

The former entrance to the Portal 31 coal mine, now a tourist attraction, is seen on April 18, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and at one time was the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to less than 1,000. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Rising Star Baptist Church is seen on April 18, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and at one time was the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to less than 1,000. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

A worker operates a coal rail car through the exit of the Portal 31 coal mine, now a tourist attraction, on April 18, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and at one time was the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to less than 1,000. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Workers enter the former entrance to the Portal 31 coal mine, now a tourist attraction, on April 18, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and at one time was the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to less than 1,000. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

A worker operates a coal rail car at the entrance to the Portal 31 coal mine, now a tourist attraction, on April 18, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and at one time was the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town s population has dwindled to less than 1,000. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town s water supply.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Surface mining operations are seen beneath low lying clouds in the Appalachian Mountains on April 18, 2012 in Partridge, Kentucky. Some types of surface mining on montains are known as "mountaintop removal mining" which has destroyed 500 mountain peaks and at least 1,200 miles of streams while leading to increased flooding. The Appalachians are some of the oldest mountains on Earth.Mario Tama/Getty Images

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